Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2) mainly comprising a bolt (1) and a pawl (2). Furthermore, a lever train (3) is provided which acts on the locking mechanism (1, 2). Furthermore, an electric drive (4, 5, 6) for the joystick train (3) is provided. Furthermore, a child lock element (7) is provided, which can be mechanically loaded from outside the lock housing (9, 10). In addition, the child lock element (7) is equipped with a sensor (11; 12, 13, 14) for inquiring the position of the child lock element (7). According to the invention, the child lock element (7) is designed to be mechanically separated from the lever train (3). In addition, the electric drive (4, 5, 6) is acted upon on the basis of the signal of the sensor (11; 12, 13, 14) in order to selectively open the locking mechanism (1, 2).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, having a locking mechanism, which mainly comprises a locking bolt / ratchet and a locking pawl / pawl; a lever train for loading the locking mechanism; an electric drive for the lever train; a child lock element, wherein the child lock element can be mechanically loaded from outside the lock housing, wherein the child lock element is equipped with a sensor which queries its position. BACKGROUND

[0002] Child lock elements are known in various design variants. Typically in practice hitherto, such mechanically working child lock elements are usually applied on the rear side doors of a motor vehicle. For this purpose, the child lock element concerned is for example a lever which can be swung by means of a door key, screwdriver, etc. By this, the child lock element concerned can assume two positions, namely a "child lock unlocked" position and a "child lock locked" position.

[0003] In the "child lock unlocked" position the lever train is engaged, so that the rear side door concerned can be opened mechanically by means of the inside handle. If, on the contrary, the child lock element is in its "child lock locked" position, the lever train concerned is disengaged, so that it cannot be opened mechanically from the inside. In this respect, the other lever train which is usually additionally provided and which is responsible for the outside manipulation is not affected. That is to say, in the "unlocked" position of the lever train concerned for the outside manipulation, the relevant motor vehicle rear side door can also be opened in the "child lock locked" position.

[0004] In addition to this hitherto mainly used mechanical solution of the child lock, electric solutions are also increasingly used nowadays. Characteristic hereof is that for opening the locking mechanism an electric drive for the lever train is loaded. In this case, the lever train cannot be mechanically connected with the door inside handle. Here, the position of the door inside handle is queried by means of a sensor.

[0005] In this case, the "child lock unlocked / child lock locked" position is for example realized by means of a switch on or in the dashboard. In practice, the "child lock unlocked" function position corresponds to the loading of the door inside handle and the associated sensor being evaluated by means of a control unit, in such a way that the associated electric drive is actuated to open the locking mechanism. If, on the contrary, the switch described earlier is in the "child lock locked" position in or on the dashboard, the signal of the sensor associated with the door inside handle for actuating the electric drive is ignored.

[0006] This basic solution is the subject matter of the prior art of the type described in DE 20 2012 003 171 U1. Here, the child lock element is not only equipped with a sensor, but also an electric drive for opening the locking mechanism can be activated or deactivated depending on the position of the child lock element as queried by means of the sensor. A switch is also provided by means of which the activated child lock element is deactivated in an emergency mode. As a result, the locking mechanism can still be opened by the electric drive in the emergency mode in question.

[0007] This electric child lock has proven itself in principle. However, this electric child lock has partially encountered acceptance problems in practice, since the activation and deactivation of the child lock by means of a switch on the dashboard or in the dashboard is not compatible with the practiced behavior of the operator in the case of a mechanical child lock and is perceived as not being intuitive. Furthermore, this switch is usually not present in a physical form again, but is part of a submenu of a menu control system and accordingly cannot be found by the operator or can only be found by the operator in a cumbersome manner. This leads to acceptance problems, so that the child lock function is not used at all. This is unacceptable for the original intention of protecting children in the back seat, so that there is an urgent need for improvement of the existing solutions. SUMMARY

[0008] The technical problem addressed by the present invention is therefore to further develop such a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, such that a practiced and intuitive operation is also provided when implementing an electric child lock function.

[0009] In order to solve this technical problem, the present invention proposes that the child lock element is designed to be mechanically separated from the lever system, and that the electric drive is loaded depending on the signal of the sensor in order to selectively open the locking mechanism.

[0010] The present invention is based here first of all on the fact that the motor vehicle lock is equipped with a lever system which, in principle, can be used instead of the electric drive to mechanically open the locking mechanism which mainly comprises a latch and a pawl. To this end, the lever system acts on the pawl and ensures that the pawl can be mechanically lifted off. This applies at least in the case where a redundancy is to be implemented for the electric opening.

[0011] In principle, however, the lever system can also be simplified to a (single) lever, a release lever, for example. In this case, the electric drive ensures that the pawl is released from its locking engagement with the latch by means of the release lever and in this way opens the locking mechanism. In this case, no additional mechanical connection to the door handle inside the vehicle door needs to be taken into account. Further possibilities exist, namely that the release lever can be an integral part of the pawl, for example, designed as an arm of the pawl.

[0012] Since the child lock element is designed to be mechanically separate from the lever train, the child lock element can always be manipulated in a similar manner to the prior art according to DE 20 2012 003 171 U1. However, this manipulation according to the application corresponds differently to the prior art of this type, whereby the lever train is not disconnected or engaged by the loaded coupling lever. Rather, the loading of the child lock element according to the application is exclusively queried only by means of the sensor. The electric drive is now loaded according to the signal of the sensor to selectively open the locking mechanism.

[0013] If the signal generated by the sensor corresponds to the child lock element being in the "child lock unlocked" position, the additional and again sensorically queried loading of the door handle inside leads in this case to the control unit evaluating both signals logically to the interpretation that the motor vehicle, for example the motor vehicle rear side door, equipped with the child lock element can be opened. That is to say, the electric drive ensures the electric opening of the locking mechanism. Conversely, if the signal of the sensor corresponds to the child lock element being in the "child lock locked" position, the control unit ensures that the electric drive is not loaded in order to open the locking mechanism, even if the additional signal of the door handle inside is used for opening the locking mechanism.

[0014] That is to say, the signal of the sensor assigned to the child lock element is evaluated by the control unit. In addition, the control unit generally additionally also takes into account the signal of the door handle inside. Thereby, the locking mechanism is selectively opened by the electric drive or the electric drive is not actuated.

[0015] Nevertheless, the child lock element can still be arranged at the same location as before in the purely mechanical solution, for example on the end panel of the motor vehicle rear side door. In addition, the manipulation of the child lock element can be intuitively realized and carried out as this is known to the operator from the purely mechanical solution. An additional switch in or on the dashboard for carrying out the child lock function or a corresponding menu setting on the screen can thus be omitted. Acceptance is thereby increased and a child lock element that works like a mechanical one can be combined with an electric child lock without problems. A greater use is thus to be expected, which also increases the safety of children located in the rear bench seat. The electric child lock is thus ultimately manipulated mechanically. This is the main advantage of the application.

[0016] According to an advantageous design, the sensor assigned to the child lock element is coupled to the control unit that has already been described and discussed before and that evaluates the signal of the sensor. In this case, the control unit itself ensures that the electric drive is actuated according to the signal of the sensor.

[0017] A particularly cost-effective and particularly compact embodiment is characterized in that the sensor is arranged on the electronic component carrier or is a constituent part thereof. The application makes use of the fact that motor vehicle locks are nowadays typically equipped with such an electronic component carrier, which usually carries and electrically contacts all the electrical and electronic components inside the associated lock housing. According to the application, a sensor that interrogates the child lock element is now added to the electronic component carrier in addition to these electrical or electronic components. This design proposal can advantageously be implemented in this way because the child lock element can be mechanically loaded from outside the lock housing and is therefore usually rotatably supported in the lock housing.

[0018] Overall, the sensor can work in a touchless manner or in a contact manner. A touchless embodiment can be considered, for example, in that the sensor is a Hall sensor or an optoelectronic sensor. In the usual case, however, a sensor is designed to work in a contact manner. Here, a sensor designed as a switch proves to be particularly advantageous.

[0019] Alternatively or additionally, however, the sensor can also be designed as a conductor track pair that can be bridged by a sliding contact. In this respect, the conductor tracks of the conductor track pair usually have different lengths. As a result, the sliding contact coupled to the child lock element can selectively connect or separate the two conductor tracks from one another depending on the position of the child lock element. This will be explained in detail with reference to the embodiments.

[0020] In any case, this solution of the conductor tracks of the conductor track pair as a sensor of the child lock element has the additional advantage that the conductor tracks can be simply realized and implemented as a constituent part of the electronic component carrier. Since such an electronic component carrier is typically equipped with a plurality of conductor tracks anyway for contacting electrical and electronic components. Now in the context of the application, only the conductor track pair has to be added, and the child lock element ensures, with the sliding contact arranged thereon depending on its position, that the "child lock unlocking" position and the "child lock locking" position can be realized and implemented thereby. This is particularly simple and particularly cost-effective to implement and at the same time robust and durable.

[0021] The child lock element is usually designed as a handle / actuating cam / actuating knob that can be rotated about an axis. The handle itself can have an actuating recess into which a screwdriver or a motor vehicle key can be engaged in order to open its pivoting movement relative to the supporting lock housing.

[0022] For this purpose, the handle can in principle be supported in a lock box or a lock cover that is a constituent part of the lock housing. That is to say, the lock housing comprises a lock cover, which is typically designed as a plastic injection-molded part, on the one hand, and a metal lock box on the other hand. Both structural elements of the lock housing can be used to rotatably support the handle, usually.

[0023] In the context of a particularly advantageous design, the actuating element is arranged in the access region of the locking mechanism. Thereby, the actuating element is arranged to be protected and at the same time easily accessible. In any case, the actuating element or child lock element involved can be mechanically loaded from outside the lock housing. This is typically achieved when opening a motor vehicle (rear) door.

[0024] Therefore, the loading of the child lock element or actuating element in the context of the present application is not different from the operation as it has been known for decades by operators with regard to purely mechanical motor vehicle locks. Now, this intuitive possibility of operation is combined with an electric child lock, since the child lock element is designed according to the present application to be mechanically separate from the actuating lever and thus also from the electric drive. Only the signal of the sensor assigned to the child lock element is evaluated by the control unit in combination with the signal of the door handle inside the vehicle door. This is the main advantage of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] The present application is explained in detail below with reference to the drawings, which show only one embodiment; in the drawings:

[0026] Figure 1 a schematic overview of a motor vehicle lock according to the present application in the "child lock on or child lock open" position,

[0027] Figure 2 a schematic overview of a motor vehicle lock according to the present application in the "child lock on or child lock open" position, Figure 1

[0028] Figure 3 a schematic overview of a motor vehicle lock according to the present application in the "child lock on or child lock open" position,

[0029] Figure 4 a schematic overview of a motor vehicle lock according to the present application in the "child lock on or child lock open" position,

[0030] Figure 5 a schematic overview of a motor vehicle lock according to the present application in the "child lock on or child lock open" position, Figure 4

[0031] Figure 6 a schematic overview of a motor vehicle lock according to the present application in the "child lock on or child lock open" position, DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] In the drawings, a motor vehicle lock is shown, which according to this embodiment is a motor vehicle door lock. The motor vehicle lock has only in Figure 1 ​​The lock mechanism 1, 2, which is outlined in its entirety and comprises, inter alia, a locking bolt 1 and a locking pawl 2. Furthermore, a lever train 3 is provided, which loads the lock mechanism 1, 2. The lever train 3 is simplified according to the embodiment and without limitation to a release lever 3, which is furthermore a component of the locking pawl 2, i.e. is designed as an arm 3 of the locking pawl 2.

[0033] Furthermore, an electric drive 4, 5, 6 for the lever train 3 is shown. The electric drive 4, 5, 6 comprises an electric motor 4 and an output shaft, which protrudes therefrom and carries an output worm 5, which in turn ensures the driving of an output wheel 6, which has lugs or pegs. Figure 1 The clockwise movement outlined in the middle results in the locking pawl 2 being swung in a counterclockwise direction about its axis by means of the pegs arranged on the output wheel.

[0034] For this purpose, the pegs or the output wheel 6 in question act on the release lever 3, which is a component of the locking pawl 2. As a result, the locking pawl 2 is in any case swung in a counterclockwise direction about its axis. Figure 1 The counterclockwise swinging outlined in the middle. As a result, the locking pawl 2 is disengaged from its locking engagement with the locking bolt 1. The locking bolt 1 itself can then be swung in a clockwise direction upward, as outlined there, and releases the not explicitly shown locking pin, which was previously seized. The associated motor vehicle door can be opened.

[0035] Furthermore, the basic structure comprises a child lock element 7. For this purpose and without limitation, the child lock element 7 is designed as a manipulation 7, which is rotatably supported in a lock housing 9, 10 about a central rotational axis 8 and can thereby be mechanically loaded or loadable from outside the lock housing 9, 10.

[0036] It can be seen in comparison Figure 3 with Figure 6 that the child lock element 7 in question or the manipulation 7 rotatable about its axis 8 can be supported on the one hand in a lock cover 9 as a component of the lock housing 9, 10, as can be seen in the illustration in Figure 3 On the other hand, it can alternatively also be supported in the lock box 10, for example in the region of the access opening, as is shown in the variant according to Figure 6 Here, the lock cover 9 made of plastic and the metal lock box 10 together define the lock housing 9, 10.

[0037] According to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 , Figure 5 It can be seen that the child lock element 7 is equipped with sensors 11; 12, 13, 14, which query its position. The signals of the sensors 11; 12, 13, 14 are evaluated by a control unit 15, which is only shown in Figure 1 Furthermore, the control unit 15 also evaluates the signals of another not explicitly shown sensor, which is associated with theFigure 1 The interior door handle 16 is outlined. As soon as the interior door handle 16 is loaded in order to open the locking mechanism 1, 2 and thus the associated motor vehicle door, the sensor pertaining to the interior door handle 16 in question sends a corresponding signal 15 to the control unit 15.

[0038] If the control unit 15 determines in this case and in the case of loading of the interior door handle 16 by querying the sensors 11; 12, 13, 14 pertaining to the child lock element 7 that the "child lock unlocking" function position is occupied, the control unit 15 sends a signal to the electric drive 4, 5, 6 to electrically open the locking mechanism 1, 2.

[0039] If, conversely, the querying of the sensors 11; 12, 13, 14 pertaining to the child lock element 7 results in the "child lock locking" function position, the control unit 15 does not execute the signal sent by the interior door handle 16 or rather its sensor to open the door. The locking mechanism 1, 2 remains closed in this case.

[0040] As can be seen from the figures, the child lock element 7 is designed according to the invention to be mechanically separate from the lever system 3. Furthermore, the child lock element 7 is designed to be electrically independent of the electric drive 4, 5, 6. Furthermore, the design is adopted that the electric drive 4, 5, 6 is loaded as described by the signal of the sensors 11; 12, 13, 14 pertaining to the child lock element 7 to selectively open the locking mechanism 1, 2. If the child lock element 7 is in the "child lock unlocking" function position, the electric drive 4, 5, 6 is loaded to open the locking mechanism 1, 2. Conversely, if the child lock element 7 occupies the "child lock locking" position, the electric drive 4, 5, 6 is not loaded by the control unit 15 and thus the locking mechanism 1, 2 is not opened.

[0041] The sensors 11; 12, 13, 14 pertaining to the child lock element 7 are thus coupled to a control unit 15 which evaluates the sensor signals and which itself operates the electric drive 4, 5, 6 as described depending on the signals of the sensors 11; 12, 13, 14. The sensors 11; 12, 13, 14 in question can themselves be arranged on an electronics carrier 17 which is outlined in the figures and which is located inside the lock housing 9, 10. Furthermore, the sensors 11; 12, 13, 14 can themselves be an integral part of the electronics carrier 17 in question. The electronics carrier 17 is in the simplest case a circuit board which is equipped with conductor tracks and which can additionally be encapsulated with plastic in order to provide protection from moisture and corrosion. All electrical and electronic components inside the lock housing 9, 10 are usually mechanically held and electrically contacted by means of the electronics carrier 17.

[0042] Sensors 11, 12, 13, and 14 are theoretically capable of operating in a non-contact manner; however, this is not shown within the scope of this embodiment. Instead, sensors 11, 12, 13, and 14 are designed as contact sensors. In principle, two different embodiments are sought here. Therefore, according to... Figure 4 to Figure 6 As can be seen in the embodiments, sensors 11, 12, 13, and 14 can specifically be switches, particularly microswitches 11.

[0043] However, instead of this, sensors 11; 12, 13, 14 can also be designed as conductor pairs 12, 13, which can be bridged by sliding contact 14. Here, the two conductor lines 12, 13 are designed to have different lengths, such as according to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As can be seen. In this way, the sliding contact 14 connected to the child lock element 7 ensures, depending on the position of the child lock element 7, that the two conductor lines 12, 13 are selectively electrically connected or disconnected from each other.

[0044] For this purpose, in accordance with Figure 1 and Figure 2 The design scheme within the scope of the embodiment is first designed such that the two shown conductor lines 12, 13 are part of the electronic component carrier 17. That is, the two conductor lines 12, 13 are additional components among the conductor lines originally present on the electronic component carrier 17 that are not explicitly shown. Because the child lock element 7 is designed according to this embodiment as an actuating member 7 that can swing about axis 8 and the actuating member 7 carries sliding contacts 14 for the two conductor lines 12, 13 on a cantilever, the two conductor lines are designed in an arc shape relative to a common center point defined by axis 8 for the actuating member 7. The different lengths of the two conductor lines 12, 13 now result in, according to Figure 1 In the "child lock unlock" function position, the two conductor lines 12 and 13 are electrically connected to each other via the sliding contact 14. This can be queried accordingly by the control unit 15, since both conductor lines 12 and 13 are connected to the control unit 15.

[0045] Conversely, if the child lock element 7, or the operating element 7 implemented here, occupies the... Figure 2 In the "child lock engaged" position shown, the two conductor lines 12 and 13 are not electrically connected. This is because, in this situation, the sliding contact 14 is located in the area that only contacts conductor line 13, while the additional conductor line 12 is not connected to the sliding contact 14. Therefore, in this situation, the control unit 15 does not detect current flowing through the two feeder lines through conductor lines 12 and 13 and the sliding contact 14.

[0046] Instead, switch 11 is based on Figure 4 andFigure 5 Within the scope of the embodiments, it is ensured that, according to Figure 4 In the "child lock unlock" position, switch 11 is actuated, which is then queried and interpreted accordingly by control unit 15 via the feeder wire drawn there to the control unit 15. However, if switch 11 is in the position according to Figure 5 If the function position is not loaded, the control unit 15 interprets it as the "child lock on" function position. Of course, based on... Figure 1 and Figure 2 or Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the two variations of the implementation method, the opposite measures can also be taken in principle here.

[0047] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0048] Locking mechanisms 1 and 2

[0049] Locking tongue 1

[0050] Claw 2

[0051] Release lever 2

[0052] Arm 3

[0053] joystick system 3

[0054] Motor 4

[0055] Output worm 5

[0056] Drive units 4, 5, 6

[0057] Output wheel 6

[0058] Child lock element 7

[0059] Control Component 7

[0060] Rotating shaft 8

[0061] Lock housings 9 and 10

[0062] Lock cover 9

[0063] Lock box 10

[0064] Switch 11

[0065] Conductor lines 12 and 13

[0066] Sensors 11; 12, 13, 14

[0067] Sliding contact 14

[0068] Signal 15

[0069] Control Unit 15

[0070] 16 interior door handles

[0071] Electronic component carrier 17

Claims

1. A motor vehicle lock, particularly a motor vehicle door lock, comprising: a locking mechanism (1, 2), the locking mechanism mainly including a bolt (1) and a pawl (2); a lever system (3) for loading the locking mechanism (1, 2); an electric drive device (4, 5, 6) for operating the lever system (3); and a child lock element (7), wherein, The child lock element (7) can be mechanically loaded from outside the lock housing (9, 10), wherein the child lock element (7) is equipped with sensors (11; 12, 13, 14) for querying its position. Its features are, The child lock element (7) is designed to be mechanically separate from the lever system (3) and to load the electric drive (4, 5, 6) based on signals from sensors (11; 12, 13, 14) to selectively open the locking mechanism (1, 2).

2. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that, Sensors (11; 12, 13, 14) associated with the child lock element (7) are connected to a control unit (15) that evaluates the signals from the sensors, and the control unit operates the electric drive unit (4, 5, 6) based on the signals.

3. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The sensors (11; 12, 13, 14) are arranged on the electronic component carrier (17) or are part of the electronic component carrier.

4. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The sensors (11; 12, 13, 14) operate in a non-contact or contact manner.

5. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The sensors (11; 12, 13, 14) are designed as switches (11).

6. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The sensors (11; 12, 13, 14) are designed as conductor pairs (12, 13) that can be bridged by the sliding contact (14).

7. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 6, characterized in that, The conductor lines (12, 13) of the conductor line pair (12, 13) have different lengths, so that the sliding contact (14) of the child lock element (7) selectively connects or separates the two conductor lines (12, 13) to each other depending on the position of the child lock element.

8. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The child lock element (7) is designed as an operating element (7) that can rotate around the axis (8).

9. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 8, characterized in that, The operating element (7) is supported in the lock box (10) or lock cover (9), which is part of the lock housing (9, 10).

10. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 9, characterized in that, The control element (7) is arranged in the entry area of ​​the locking mechanism (1, 2).

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